Wrist positioning athletic device

Abstract

An apparatus for teaching and practicing the proper positioning of the hands and/or wrists relative to the arms in the performance of an athletic maneuver is disclosed. The apparatus includes a brace to be positioned on the forearm and extend across the wrist and at least partially along the hand. A securing mechanism can be included for selectively attaching the brace to the forearm. A rod extends from the brace and is configured to be gripped by the user while wearing the device. The rod can also receive athletic related devices. The device can be adapted to teach a user the proper positioning of the hands and wrists relative to the arms throughout an athletic maneuver.

1. An athletic instructional device usable in teaching a user the proper positioning of a hand and wrist relative to a forearm during an athletic maneuver, the device comprising:
 a brace having an interior portion and an exterior portion, the interior portion of the brace being receptive to at a portion of the forearm, wrist, and hand the user so as to extend at least partially along the forearm, wrist, and hand of the user; 
 a securing mechanism that selectively secures the brace to the user; 
 a rod having a first end and an opposing second end, the rod extending from the interior portion of the brace adjacent one end of the brace so that the user can grasp the rod when the brace is worn by the user, wherein the rod is coupled directly to the brace at a predetermined angle and such that the orientation of the rod and the brace remain substantially constant, thereby substantially maintaining the user's hand and wrist in a substantially constant orientation relative to the forearm during the athletic maneuver: 
 a first weight disposed on the exterior portion of the brace adjacent the first end of the rod, such that the brace is disposed between the first weight and the hand of the user; and 
 a second weight disposed at the second end of the rod. 
 
     
     
       2. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a semicircular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       3. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastening system, grommets, snaps, zippers, adhesives, elastic cord, and stretchable material. 
     
     
       4. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the brace is adapted to generally correspond to the shape of the user's arm. 
     
     
       5. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , further comprising cushioning disposed on the interior surface of the brace so as to increase the comfort of wearing the brace. 
     
     
       6. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the second weight is selectively replaceable with at least one of a golf club or a resistance fan. 
     
     
       7. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod forms a generally right angle with a longitudinal axis of the brace. 
     
     
       8. The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the rod and brace are formed as an integral piece. 
     
     
       9. A method for learning the proper positioning of a hand and a wrist relative to a forearm during an athletic maneuver, the method comprising:
 securing a brace to an athlete such that the brace extends at least partially along a first forearm, a first wrist, and a first hand of the athlete; 
 grasping a rod with the first hand, wherein the rod and brace are coupled directly together to maintain the first hand in a desired, substantially constant orientation relative to the first forearm, and wherein the rod has a first weight and a second weight disposed at opposing ends thereof, such that the first hand is positioned between the first and second weights when the first hand grasps the rod; and 
 performing the athletic maneuver, wherein the first hand and the first forearm are maintained in the desired, substantially constant orientation throughout the performance of the athletic maneuver. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising grasping the rod with a second hand prior to performing the athletic maneuver, wherein the second hand is positioned between the first and second weights when the second hand grasps the rod. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising replacing the second weight with an athletic device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the athletic device comprises a golf club, a resistance fan, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the athletic maneuver comprises a golf swing. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the desired, substantially constant orientation of the first hand relative to the first forearm is achieved when the brace is secured on the first forearm, the first hand grasps the rod, and the rod forms a generally right angle with the brace. 
     
     
       15. An athletic instructional device, comprising:
 first and second means for maintaining a first hand of an athlete in a desired, substantially constant orientation relative to a first forearm of the athlete during an athletic maneuver, the first and second means being connected together, wherein the first and second means cooperate to substantially prevent the first hand of the athlete from moving in first and second directions relative to the first forearm, and wherein the first and second means cooperate to cause the first hand and the first forearm of the athlete to rotate together during the performance of the athletic maneuver; 
 a securing mechanism that selectively couples the first means for maintaining to the first forearm or first hand of the athlete; and 
 first and second resistance mechanisms disposed at opposing ends of the second means for maintaining, such that the first hand of the athlete is disposed between the first and second resistance mechanisms during the athletic maneuver. 
 
     
     
       16. The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastening system or a stretchable fabric. 
     
     
       17. The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein the first means for maintaining comprises a brace that is wearable by the athlete and extends along at least a portion of the first forearm and the first hand. 
     
     
       18. The athletic instructional device of  claim 17 , wherein the second means for maintaining comprises a rod extending from the brace at a generally right angle. 
     
     
       19. The athletic instructional device of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second resistance mechanisms comprise, respectively, a first weight disposed at a first end of the rod and a second weight at a second end of the rod. 
     
     
       20. The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second resistance mechanisms is selectively replaceable with at least one of a golf club, a resistance fan, or a combination thereof.